#the world shapers

[doctornolonger]

Long before Chibnall gave us CyberMasters, Craig Hinton dropped a series of hints in his novels The Crystal Bucephalus, The Quantum Archangel, and Synthespians™ that the Cybermen would one day evolve into peaceful and enlightened “Cyberlords”.

In accord with your thoughts, it’s worth mentioning that the War in Heaven is an idea that Craig Hinton kept coming back to, even after The Ancestor Cell. He referenced it in Aspects of Evil; in his notes for Time's Champion; and in The Quantum Archangel, where appeared in an alternate universe. There the Sixth Doctor was President of the Time Lords during the War, leading a fleet of timeships against the suspiciously-Dalek-looking Enemy. (Sound familiar?) In that universe the Cyberlords were Gallifrey's strongest allies, until time was rewritten and they were turned against.

As Hinton tells it, these Cyberlords were the ones who maintained the ArcHive which was the source for David Banks’ “ArcHive Tapes”. Perhaps they were also the final stage of evolution mentioned in the haunting ending to The World Shapers…

Which adds some support to your hypothesis. The Cybermen in The World Shapers are revealed to be the next stage of evolution of the Voord, about whom Interference tells us,

The Remote are not by any means the only media-dependent culture in our galaxy. However, they are unique among humanoid races in that each society is held together by a single media system, which the Remote have very nearly elevated to the status of godhood. The closest comparison we can find in our galaxy is one of the planets in the Voora Marinii group, whose inhabitants were for many years controlled by a ‘conscience’ not entirely unlike one of the Remote’s transmitters; but even that world had its counterculture, a secondary media system which, it’s believed, eventually led to the fall of local civilisation. Indeed, some have suggested that the entire planet may have been an experiment in sociology, engineered by whatever beings were responsible for scattering the Remote throughout known space. One would certainly have to note the fetishistic apparel worn by the followers of Marinus’s counterculture, and the receiver aerials they carried on their foreheads. In many respects, these ‘alien Voord’ might be considered the Remote’s direct ancestors…

The Cybergod

The Cybermen, cold, logical, unfeeling, yet they have a concept of God.

Now what sources suggest this

Let’s start with the comic story “Conversion” in which the eleventh Doctor forces the Cybermen to see a vision of a “fearsome Cyber-god”

Whilst this may be fictional (as suggest by TARDIS wiki) to me as the Doctor also conjures up a vision of a Roman god for the Romans they are fighting, it is reaching into there inner mind.

Now on to the Next Source, the Video Game “Edge of Reality” in this we meet the Cyberreaper

A Cyberman who seems to have no physical form but instead forms it body from the destroyed Cybermen which surrounds them. They Travel through time nullifying the Cybermen enemies by sowing chaos in there timeline. And is described as Mythical

Now my Third Source in the Cybermen Comic Strip from DWM which reveals that Mondas also had it’s own Silurians and Seas Devils, know as Lizard King’s

They ruled as God-Kings of Mondas’s past and where worshiped by their ape slaves. And these apes where partially cyber converted and the technology used to create the apes and the Cybermen came from a Time Paradox.

Now onto the final and in my opinion most important source, the Book of the War. Now you may be thinking to yourself what does Faction Paradox have to do with the Cybermen? Well we have the Silversmith Coteries and the the Order of the Iron Soul both of which to me seem like the Cybermen, but I am Talking about a Cyber God, and so I will bring up Godparent Pinocchio a being who is clearly a Cyberman who has been infected by the Faction Paradox’s Biodata virus. They take the form of skeletal machine as they have cast of their outer armour, their insides and remaining biological components visible, and upon their face a doll like mask. They are described as having spent sometime among their people trying to convince them to join the Faction. And their appearance is we are told is that of their peoples god. The elusive Cyber God.

The Cybermen having a concept of God across several sources seems to suggest that they have a mythology and a religion of some, weather they admit to it or not the evidence is there. And one theme seems common Paradox. So perhaps the Cybermen don’t worship a physical god but they worship Paradox, something which is describe in Alien Bodies and Being “Divine and Perfect” and we all know the Cybermen seek perfection. So perhaps the Cybermen themselves are just another agent of Paradox, that would explain there contradictory backstory, not to mention that the Order of the Iron Soul (the Cybermen in the afterlife) act as the enforcer’s for the Rump Parliament (the Faction in the Afterlife). So may I Tentatively suggest that the Grandfather Created the Cybermen as a kind of Joke, they have the cool logic of the Great Houses but the Relgion and beliefs of the Faction (or then House) Paradox. We know that the Drashings where created by another renegade Homeworld who joined the Faction (and may be the Doctor). So there is a precedent for the Faction creating whole races as a kind of cruel joke.

[hyperfluffed-scribbles]

Part one

shaperators 2 siglectric moongaloo

[ven-of-oath]

Guess who qblrsmp special addition to commemorate the serving ending. I am one of the admins Ven, I played

- Evaportation "Eva" 777-Owes-Magician

- The strange nether creature that tormented people for like a month before dying tragically

- The spirit that haunts the school gym

[obsessiveagony2point0]

Lighter options below the cut along with the images that inspired me!

Lighter options

Inspirations

[punemy-spotted]

Idhehdj I'm so nervous making this ask cuz I don't wanna bother you if you've stopped writing for the Sleepover in the Valley event- but if you are still writing for it; what would Zemo's role in the Valley be? Love your writing so much and I hope your days are good!!!!!

Friend, you are absolutely not bothering me! I am definitely still writing for the Sleepover, it's still going until my birthday! I'm delighted you've asked about my beloved Helmut, and I'm so excited to talk about him with you!

(Hint: You might have seen him before, in a different story not quite connected to the Valley... except for him!)

Come join the Family for a Sleepover in the Valley!

Helmut Zemo is not of the Green. He is not of the Inner Dark either. Y'might've called him a demon of the crossroads, so long as you ain't talkin' right to his face, but he ain't that either — Helmut Zemo ain't even his real name, but it is the one he likes best.

Thing about this world, burnin' black rock on a backwater planet no-one woulda considered worth anythin' in the years before the planet was born, is that he did. Might've been a disaster, might've been all the fires of Hell convergin' around him, might just've been a nice vacation. Don't matter.

What matters is this: when the things that would've torn apart the edges of this universe t'fill their own bellies were sealed away, Helmut Zemo was there. An' Helmut Zemo, gatekeeper an' guardian, Baron of the Crossroads, keeper of the keys, was called to be warden of this newly built prison, to keep its secrets deep within an' keep away all who would be fool enough to crack open its shell an' release the Pandora's Box sealed inside.

And Helmut Zemo did not answer.

Figure we should all thank him for that.

Figure he'll probably ask.

[doctorslippery]

[liaragaming]

And people say they don't understand us Solasmancers. HELLO?!

lavellan: “so the fade huh. thats cool”

solas: “are you attempting to…….,,.know me”

lavellan: “yeah kinda is there something wrong with that”

solas: “…”

solas: “i see you are a mage”

lavellan: “uh huh”

solas: “have you ever been dominated in the bedroom”

[chadwickginther]

2024 Mid-year Check In

For those readers who might be new around here, every year I make some writing related goals to try and keep my creative year on track. I also check in at the midpoint to see how things are going. So … that said, here were my goals for 2024: Revise and submit my WIP novella. Continue submitting my short fiction. Submit at least four new stories. Right now the plan is for these stories to…

[voidsoulfishing]

I bait my hook with a community of worldbuilders. Who comes for the hook? Why? How large is this demographic? What is their primary trade?

Group Name: The Ancient Gardners Group Goals: To carefully cultivate world and realities, growing the most beautiful garden in the multiverse Number of Members: 7 Why did the Bait work? Inspired by the community, the Gardeners gathered together to speak to like minded individuals, to share their inspiration and to gain inspiration from others. Important Members ~Apollo Dunn: The primary Gardener, Apollo rules over the stars of the Garden, providing the most basic building blocks the other Gardener's use to build their own creations. ~Artemis Dunn: Twin sister to Apollo, Artemis was placed in charge of creating the planets and moons of the Garden. Each planet providing a new template for the other Gardeners to decorate. ~Marsh Temper: As the best with fluid dynamics, Marsh rules over both the waters of the Garden and the molten cores. He ensures the worlds are covered in oceans and possess magnetic fields. ~Aran Igarashi: Ruling over the weather of the Garden, Aran shapes storms and winds of the worlds created in the Garden. They love reshaping the Gas Giants of the Garden, causing them to swirl and dance. ~Mar Anaya: Takinig on the responsibility of all life in the ocean, Mar is the one that begins life in the Garden. Shaping all that lives within the ocean and deciding what eventually makes the journey to land and to Adams or Alices care. ~Adam Butcher: Adam takes on the responsability to shape all those creatures Mar sends onto him. Allowing them to grow and expand, some taking to the skies and others eventually returning to the seas. Most remain on land and an even smaller number are chosen by Alice. ~Alice Veers: Alice controls the development of Sapient life in the Garden. Chosing what life gains sapience and what way they develop. She adores seeing just what the Garden can produce and will happily show off her work to any who will listen. She encourages her work to achieve some form of space flight, allowing them to intermingle and grow even greater. Backstory: In a world of reality shapers, those that can create realities are rare and often flock together. Each individual having their own skills and talents in creation. That is exactly what brought the Gardeners together, each possessing their own talents in shaping the realities they created. The Gardner's adore their work, creating vast stretches of reality, carefully cultivated and shaped to make the most beautiful displays. Each Garden is carefully sculpted by each of them, all of them working in tandem to create a work of art each time.

[cabletwo]

this week on cable two

Tues 5:00pm FMV Wed 5:00pm Warp Zone Thurs 5:30pm Link Cable 11:00pm The Long Haul Fri 5:00pm Transience Shaper 8:00pm Trina's World Sun 5:00pm Warp Zone

all times central twitch.tv/cabletwo

[shy-canadian-snowflake]

Logan probably thinks Wade is horny for his OG Logan, and he's second best, hell less then second best. He is the worst Wolverine after all.

In theory, time line wise, the OG Logan would still be around. The movie Logan takes place in 2029 (I think?) So in 2024, there would be two Logan's. OG and Worst.

Imagine this, something happens and both OG and Worst are in the same room, sizing each other up. One a hero, the other killing so many many people. Worst Logan had a moment of thinking, yeah Wade would take the Hero to bed in a heartbeat.

Wade does show up, and doesn't give a damn about the OG, maybe makes a joke about "hey would you fuck another version of yourself' or some other kind of vulgar thing, but he only has eyes for Worst Logan. Worst Logan questions him on this, why isnt he trying to get OG Logan in bed?

And Wade asks him, "Why would I give a damn about him when I have you? Even if, Marvel Jesus forbids, something happen to you, why would I go to him? You give a damn about me, he doesn't. You saved my world with me, he didn't. You are my best Logan, he isn't."

And Logan is stuck with the realization, he's wanted. Not just because he's a Wolverine, its because he's Logan. The man who is in pain, is too angry, is sharp remarks and shaper claws. And Wade wants all that.

He is not Worst Logan, he's Wade's Logan.

[nadas-dirthalen]

Dragon Age: the Veilguard Was Packed with Lore — But Many of Us Overlooked It

— PART ONE — [ 2 ]

Welcome back, friends and travellers. If you've been here a while, you'll know that I wrote 30,000 words of predictions in the week and a half before DA:tV released. But here's the most surprising thing—I was right, for the most part.

I spent my first Veilguard playthrough grinning (and then sobbing) at all the lore reveals. And here's the thing: I think most of us missed a lot of them, including even me.

So let's begin with...

Titans: Dark and Light, Compassion and Rage, the Eternal Hymn and its Endless Listeners (1/2)

This is your warning: This post will contain spoilers for the entirety of Dragon Age: the Veilguard, and all Dragon Age content made before Veilguard.

Alright, pals. If you've been here a while, you know how this goes. I always start by listing what we're going to cover, like anyone who's never fully recovered from academia.

Today's Discussion:

What Veilguard (Re)Taught Us about the Titans

The Titans the first Shapers of the known world.

The Titans are beings of the Abyss.

The Titans are sleeping, dormant—but alive.

Dwarves are the Titans' children, created to tend them.

The Evanuris mined the Titans' bodies to create people.

The Titans—the Earth—fought back.

What Veilguard (Re)Taught Us about the Titans

The best thing about Dragon Age, as someone who loves the series to death, is that its worldbuilding is consistent, but also bears the unique quality that we, as players, are not aware of it all. Our protagonists in each game don't know everything; the people they learn from also don't know everything. We learn what we can through codices that are all biased and need an extra layer of decoding. This is a feature, not a bug.

It also means that we did not know how to understand the Titans before. Even my 30,000 words of theorycrafting, especially my piece all about the Titans, had elements of speculation. I had to check that speculation against other sources like the Chant of Light, which is a source that we REALLY did not know how to decode when it was revealed piece by piece in DAO, DA2, World of Thedas, and Inquisition.

Here, I'm going to break it all down, piece by piece.

The Titans were the first Shapers of the (known) world.

It is said in the Descent DLC that Titans are enormous beings whose singing shapes the world. Their existence predates much of Thedas, if not all of it. The Titans are called the first Shapers for this reason, and in Veilguard it is restated several times over that they did, indeed, shape the world—for instance, by Cole in Inquisition.

"Their ancient shapers were mountains drawn of all their wills, walking their memories into valleys of the world." —Cole dialogue.

Inquisition told us so much more about the Titans than just that, though. The Titans have a realm all their own, a counterpart to the Fade, mentioned over and again in the Chant of Light and referenced as a quest name in Inquisition.

Here lies the abyss: the well of all souls.

The Titans are beings of the Abyss.

Now, it's important that I mention right here that the Chant of Light has existed long before Inquisition. In fact, its tale is what opens DA:O as the game begins. Recently Eurogamer stated that BioWare has had a massive lore document for the 20+ years of its existence, and I believe that there is no truer example of this than in the Chant of Light itself.

The Abyss, for a long time, was a mystery to us. Inquisition cleared it up a lot—not only with its game content, but with World of Thedas' publication shortly thereafter.

Not only is the Abyss referred to in many elven codices, but we go there. The key locations of the Descent DLC—the Forgotten Caverns, Bastion of the Pure, and the Wellspring—are in a region called the Uncharted Abyss.

Now, with Harding, we go deeper into the Deep Roads than the average dweller. The same is true in that instance: venture down far enough, and we reach a Titan's heart.

We find a Titan's heart there. But the Titan does not wake—none have before DA:tV, and even then, they have not fully woken. Because, for as long as we have known...

The Titans are sleeping, dormant—but alive.

"It's singing. A they that's an it that's asleep, but still making music." — Cole dialogue.

There is so much Cole dialogue in Inquisition that speaks on the sleeping Titans, on their old songs that once sang the same, on how they will never wake up, that it would be folly to try and post every codex here. Suffice it to say: Cole knows of the Titans, knows of their songs, and knows they are asleep. He is one of the pathways to our knowledge of the Titans in Inquisition, and his words are peppered throughout the game.

The Chant of Light also makes reference to a mountainous Maker, who oft speaks about a forgotten mountain. When Andraste meets the Maker "in darkness unbroken," specifically, these words are used:

The Maker Appears to Andraste (7) Eyes sorrow-blinded, in darkness unbroken There 'pon the mountain, a voice answered my call. "Heart that is broken, beats still unceasing, An ocean of sorrow does nobody drown. — Andraste 1:7

Heart that is broken, beats still unceasing — a being who has been broken, but whose heart still beats. We can hear that, in the Descent DLC.

Veilguard confirms that both sources are true through Harding, her personal quest, and the codices for the Dwarven people.

Records that exist outside of Orzammar mention "great sleeping Titans" and "the First Ancestors." — Codex Entry: Harding's Notes: Orzammar and Titans

Harding's experiences in Veilguard, in this way, serve to prove Cole right. That is a deliberate narrative choice: BioWare's way of saying, Yes, this is true. Yes, you should take Cole's take on Titans as correct.

We also know, from Cole, that this state of being is permanent. Not only are the Titans asleep, but they don't know how to wake.

Songs screaming far away. It wants to wake up but can't remember how. No one should be here. — Cole dialogue.

This becomes crucial information in Veilguard, and central to the main plot. It serves as the backdrop for what actually matters most to the characters living in Thedas right now, which is...

Dwarves are the Titans' children, created to tend them.

By now, a lot of people have seen this reveal in the art book: the dwarves were created to tend to their Titan hosts/makers. But we knew this before—we just didn't know it in context, and therefore we did not believe it to be objectively true of Thedas.

In truth, we've known about the elves and the dwarves' origin since the Chant of Light came out in full with World of Thedas volume 2.

At last did the Maker From the living world Make men. Immutable, as the substance of the earth, With souls made of dream and idea, hope and fear, Endless possibilities. — Threnodies 5:5

I talk about it in more depth in my Chant of Light dissection, but what this verse says in context is that the dwarves (the Maker's second children) are beings crafted by the maker: bodies made of lyrium, souls made of the same "dream and idea, hope and fear" as the original spirits.

This concept has already been massively hinted toward with both Valta (who has become The Oracle in DA:tV) and Dagna, who both connect to isatunoll during Descent and Inquisition's base game, respectively.

We've known about the Evanuris' horrible crimes since before Inquisition, as well, for the same reason and from the same verses in the Chant of Light.

Until, at last, some of the firstborn said: "Our Father has abandoned us for these lesser things. We have power over heaven. Let us rule over earth as well And become greater gods than our Father." (8) The demons appeared to the children of earth in dreams And named themselves gods, demanding fealty. — Threnodies 5

With the context given to us by Trespasser and Veilguard, we know without a doubt that the Evanuris are those "jealous spirits" that comprise the Maker's first children.

And just like the Chant describes, they sought to conquer the earth: the realm of the Titans.

The Evanuris mined the Titans' bodies to create people.

Trespasser taught us so much of what we needed to know about the Evanuris' and Titans' conflicts. Its codices in the Deep Roads outline how it was Mythal, specifically, creating some of the first elves in the coffins found in that zone. The Temple of Solasan features coffins of the exact same kind.

Ir sa tel'nal Mythal las ma theneras Ir san'a emma Him solas evanuris Da'durgen'lin Banal malas elgara Bellanaris, bellanaris. — Codex: Torn Notebook in the Deep Roads, Section 3

My (updated) translation: Isatunoll Mythal gives you dreams Lyrium within Becomes Solas evanuris Little stone boy You give nothing to the Titan (anymore) Forever, forever.

Trespasser reveals that Mythal mined the bodies of slain titans and rendered their demesne unto the People: she conquered Titans and used their bodies for her own ends. The hints about these actions, however, are not exclusive to Trespasser, nor to Solasan. These seeds were planted all the way back at the Temple of Mythal.

Elgar'nan, Wrath and Thunder, Give us glory. Give us victory, over the Earth that shakes our cities. Strike the usurpers with your lightning. Burn the ground under your gaze. Bring Winged Death against those who throw down our work. Elgar'nan, help us tame the land.

This codex to Elgar'nan makes reference to Elgar'nan giving victory over the Earth (capital-E, the Titans). Trespasser would follow this up with much context—that it was Mythal who was first known to have slain Titans, "rendering their demesne unto the People."

I theorized that Mythal's mining of Titans for lyrium to make elvhen bodies was what angered the Titans, based on codices in Trespasser and the Temple of Solasan. (I go into much more depth there!) Veilguard confirms this theory in Solas' Memory #4: A Memory of Manifestation.

Solas: I have the Fade. Besides, this talk of taking on a solid form. When you took the glowing stone to build your body, did the earth not shake? Mythal: The lyrium gives us the strength we had when we were of the Fade. We are the best of physical and spirit.

Mythal's crime was what took the war with the Titans in a new, darker direction. It was what would set off the chain of events that would change the very nature of the world—and it was foreshadowed, back in Inquisition, by Cole.

The Titans—the Earth—fought back.

"They made bodies from the earth, and the earth was afraid. It fought back, but they made it forget." — Cole dialogue.

In this post, I theorized that it was Solas' creation itself that caused the first Titan to "go red." That is to say, to change its nature and fight back. I used codices from Trespasser and Solasan to get there, as well as one paragraph from World of Thedas and this codex on Fen'Harel that describe the Forgotten Ones as "beings of terror, malice, spite, and pestilence."

Thinking about those words, and specifically terror, I read the codex in the secret Deep Roads room in Trespasser with fresh perspective.

For a moment, the scent of blood fills the air, and there is a vivid image of green vines growing and enveloping a sphere of fire. The vision grows dark. An aeon seems to pass. Then the runes crackle, as if filled with an angry energy. A new vision appears: elves collapsing caverns, sealing the Deep Roads with stone and magic. Terror, heart-pounding, ice-cold, as the last of the spells is cast.

Terror. The first of the turned Titans. The fire/plant/ice imagery also caught my eye, and when I went back to Solasan to check, there were many hints that this was, indeed, where Terror came into being. (For more, go look at the most recently linked post in this section!)

Huge implications for Solas aside, what this codex taught me is that Titans' natures could change. This was confirmed in Veilguard many times over, yes—but my point here is that Inquisition taught this to me, just a few days before I gained the context of Veilguard. This was never a retcon! However, this lore plays exactly to BioWare's rules: we did not have the full context, and so almost no one read that Deep Roads codex as it was meant to be interpreted—including me, the first few times I read it!

It was only when I'd seen the achievement icons before Veilguard's release that it all clicked for me. All of the lore of Inquisition and everything before it made sense. That was never a bug, never a retcon, but a genius twist on BioWare's behalf: one that almost no one guessed at for an entire decade.

One that changes everything.

Titans, we know for certain now, behave as spirits. Obscure hints in World of Thedas, Inquisition, and the previous games have been confirmed in Veilguard. This new understanding changes not just the Titans, not just the dwarves, but reframes everything we know about the entire history of Thedas and how its magic system works.

______

Thank you for reading! It means a lot when people engage with these. And don't worry: I'm not nearly through with them. It's taken me a while to compile everything, but with more of Veilguard added to the wiki every day, it's a lot easier to compile things for these posts!

(Immense thanks to the wiki staff, of course. <3)

Up Next: Titans and Spirits are far more similar than we think, and it means everything.

[cultural-marxism-official]

last veilguard rant i swear

something ive been mulling over for a bit now again connects to the whole "elves/dalish rejecting the evanuris after finding out they bad"

this never really sat right with me for a whole host of reasons

-how did that knowledge spread from the inquisition?

-why would they spread this knowledge and how would they prove it?

-why would elves/dalish believe it with no proof?

but most importantly, why would it change anything for the elves and their faith? think about it, imagine if you went to ancient greece and told them "hey umm some of your gods were really bad and cruel, tryants actually" and said greeks going "oh wow that sucks, we will no longer worship them!" because that's essentially what veilguard does. granted the greeks knew more about their gods than the dalish do but that only strengthens my point. the matter of faith is written very strangely(poorly) in veilguard. for the most part it doesn't really engage with faith and religion much at all, which is very disappointing but when it does, it's done in a very blase kinda way. it feels like most characters are atheist/agnostic when that doesnt fit with thedas at all, religions are core to all societies weve encountered. what i believe has happened here, is a modern thinking issue with the writing, it plagues nearly every aspect of veilguard.

veilguard seems to look at faith as a matter of personal choice and that people follow the gods that are the good ones, so when they find out those gods were BAD, welp, not following them anymore! this is ridiculous and fundamentally not understanding the core of faith and belief. The elves/dalish don't worship the evanuris because they're the good and nice gods who's doctrine aligns with theirs. They worship them because they are SUPREME DIVINE BEINGS WORTHY OF WORSHIP. They are the creators and shapers of your reality, of your destiny, they are the arbiters of your eternal soul and to turn your back on them is to invite their ire. I say this not meaning specifically the elves and evanuris, but this is how most religions work. You don't choose this faith over that one because it fits your personal feelings, you believe because there is nothing else, no other god, other faiths are HERESY and LIES. Really, there isn't a choice at all unless you reject it all, something very rare in thedas because you know, magic and the fade are REAL.

So this notion of elves instantly rejecting their lifelong gods after discovering they did some bad shit is just stupid. Again, they are GODS, it is not for a measly mortal to remotely understand or be able to pass judgement on their actions. In religions morals, ethics, right or wrong do not function the same for divine beings, they are gods, anything and everything is within their right to do and the reason a mortal, a worshipper does not reject them for it is...BECAUSE THEYRE GODS AND THEY WILL SMITE YOU!!!

Same reason devout christians don't curse god for the bad stuff that happens in life, despite him being able to prevent them, it is blasphemy and it makes god angry.

All this on top of some elves already following fen'harel for example, despite it being known he is the god of lies and tricks. Faith here isn't based on him being a good god to worship, but because he could fuck up your life and you wan't to appease him to prevent that. So it should not matter at all if everyone magically became aware of the evanuris and their crimes, they are still GODS, in fact seeing them in the world should strengthen belief in them if anything and it shouldn't even enter into any believers mind that they need to be stopped or that it can even be done. Who are you to deny the will of the gods?

All this is just another example of how shallow the worldbuilding in veilguard is. We've all noticed that hardly anyone in game references religion in their dialog. No "makers breath", no "andraste's tits", no "by the paragons". It's not because the characters of veilguard are all atheists for some reason, there isn't some well thought out reason for it, the writers simply didn't bother to dig deeper into the core aspects of thedas and the forces that shape its societies.

game bad

[m1nd-r0t]

8551 Daitarabotchi … named after the Japanese Yokai colossal giant.

The asteroid represents the essence of massive, awe-inspiring, and ambivalent power—both creative and destructive—drawing from the Japanese folklore of a giant who shaped the landscape of Japan. Daitarabotchi symbolizes monumental, overwhelming forces beyond ordinary human comprehension, embodying traits of divine wisdom, uncontrollable might, and the simultaneous potential for harmony and chaos.

Traits, themes, characteristics;

The native has a “colossal” power/presence.. The overwhelming size and strength of Daitarabotchi define its mythos. It creates mountains and lakes effortlessly, representing forces capable of massive, lasting impact on the physical or metaphysical world.

Themes of creation and destruction (As a being who sculpts landscapes, Daitarabotchi bridges the duality of creation and ruin. Mountains rise, valleys sink, and entire ecosystems form or vanish at its touch.) The Daitarabotchi is a descendant of the God or Creation.. powerful, almost divine energies are at play here.

Traits of defiance and AWE.. The stories of humans trying to outwit or appease Daitarabotchi reveal its role as a symbol of the human struggle against overwhelming natural or cosmic forces. The rituals to drive it away reflect fear of what cannot be controlled or understood. These people also have the potential to leave an enormous footprint behind (metaphorically, obviously.)

—————

A prominent Daitarabotchi (conj, square, opposite. Etc.) can signify a native with an immense impact, a transformative presence, or a connection to monumental change. This asteroid speaks to themes of vast ambition, divine creativity, raw destructive energy, and encounters with overwhelming odds, etc.

Keywords include, but are not limited to; monumental creation and destruction, great passion, overwhelming strength and presence, enormity, a terrifying, yet awe-inspiring force, shaper of environments and destiny, duality of benevolence and hostility, colossal hunger for power, influence, and resources, ancient wisdom and primal instincts, impactful legacy and eternal footprints, fearsome defiance and unstoppable will.

——————

THROUGH THE SIGNS

Daitarabotchi in ARIES

Daitarabotchi in Aries represents the raw, explosive force of colossal energy infused with the fiery, pioneering, and impulsive nature of Aries. It is an embodiment of overwhelming power, relentless determination, and a drive to leave a permanent mark on the world. In someone’s life, this placement manifests as an uncontainable urge to conquer, create, and dominate, often in ways that feel monumental or larger-than-life to others. Aries thrives on action and initiation. With Daitarabotchi here, the individual becomes a figurative giant in their world, capable of reshaping their surroundings through forceful decisions and bold actions. They approach life with the mindset of a conqueror, needing to carve out their place by sheer willpower. This may play out through audacious career moves, dramatic personal transformations, or relentless pursuit of goals that others consider unattainable.

This placement speaks to ambitions that are not just big—they’re overwhelming. The person feels the need to act on a grand scale, often pursuing projects or goals that seem too large or daunting for others. They may build empires (literally or figuratively), striving for achievements that cement their legacy.

Aries is ruled by Mars, the planet of war and action. The combination with Daitarabotchi can make the individual incredibly assertive, even aggressive. They’re not afraid to fight for what they want, and they’ll often confront obstacles head-on, regardless of the consequences. However, the impulsive nature of Aries means their actions may sometimes lead to unintended destruction.

Like the mythological giant shaping the terrain, these individuals often influence or reshape the lives of those around them. Whether through leadership, confrontation, or inspiration, they become a towering figure in their community, profession, or personal relationships.

Daitarabotchi in Aries embodies the idea of clearing the old to make way for the new. In someone’s life, this can manifest as cycles of destruction and rebirth—burning bridges, leaving past situations behind and starting anew. These individuals often feel “bigger” than the world around them. They may struggle to find places where they can fully express their energy, leading them to seek environments where their larger-than-life personality is not just tolerated but celebrated.

Keywords; Monumental power. Pioneering spirit. Creation through destruction. Towering presence. Raw aggression. Unstoppable force. Chaotic energy. Passion. Monumental influence. Etc…

Daitarabotchi in TAURUS

Daitarabotchi in Taurus embodies a titanic force grounded in the physical and material world. It fuses the massive, terrain-shaping energy of the mythological giant with the steady, patient, and determined nature of Taurus. Daitarabotchi in Taurus reflects immense creative and destructive power toward building, stabilizing, and accumulating resources, wealth, or influence.

Taurus is the sign of persistence, with Daitarabotchi here, the native feels compelled to build something monumental that will withstand the test of time. Could manifest as constructing a literal empire, amassing wealth, or creating a powerful legacy rooted in actual tangible physical achievements. Approaching life like a mountain. I.e: immovable, enduring, and deeply rooted in their purpose.

Taurus ruling material possessions and earthly pleasures, having Daitarabotchi here magnifies exceedingly. Native may be deeply driven by the need to acquire wealth, land, or resources to secure stability and power. Or, they may feel overwhelmed by the weight of material responsibilities or a fear of scarcity, leading to an insatiable desire to stockpile and persevere.

Unlike the explosive, impulsive Aries, Taurus tames the great Daitarabotchi with patience and deliberation. This placement represents slow, but unstoppable growth. Said natives do not rush into action; instead, they cultivate their goals methodically, ensuring that every step builds on a solid foundation.

An absolute inability to quit. A cosmic-level ability of determination and resilience. Natives possess incredible endurance and will push through even the most insurmountable obstacles. Beware of this determination leading to stagnation and resistance to needed change.

Keywords; monumental stability, titanic patience, material mastery, earth shaker, immovable determination, sensual monolith, weight of responsibility, enduring legacy, constructive destruction, cosmic builder, luxury overdrive, enormous resourcefulness.

Daitarabotchi in GEMINI

Daitarabotchi in Gemini manifests as an immense, transformative force operating within the realms of communication, intellect, and duality. This placement symbolizes someone whose mental faculties and verbal expression are colossal, far-reaching, and capable of shaping the minds and environments of others. Just as the legendary giant Daidarabotchi left lasting marks on the landscape, this placement ensures that the individual leaves an indelible intellectual or social imprint on the world around them.

The mental titan

A mind that operates on an enormous scale, constantly seeking to gather, connect, and disseminate information. Their thoughts and ideas seem larger than life, often overwhelming to others. Reflecting Gemini’s duality, they can seamlessly adapt to different roles, shifting between conflicting identities or viewpoints with ease, much like the Daidarabotchi’s ability to change shape. Their ability to connect people, ideas, and information creates vast webs of influence that reshape their social and intellectual environments.

Endlessly curious and always moving, they find it difficult to remain in one place—physically, mentally, or emotionally—leaving behind profound changes wherever they go. Communication becomes a superpower. They can uplift, inspire, or utterly destroy through their words and ideas, wielding language with the force of a giant’s footsteps. While they may exhibit lightheartedness and wit, their humor and curiosity mask an intimidating depth of intellect and ambition.

Totally unparalleled communication

A masterful ability to express even the most complex concepts in a way that others understand. They can be persuasive, entertaining, and magnetic when speaking or writing. They thrive in environments that require quick thinking, adaptability, and creativity. These natives are able to bring together disparate ideas, people, or disciplines, they can create innovative solutions that others would never imagine. Their charisma and intellectual prowess make them natural leaders in social or academic circles. Their ability to manipulate and dominate conversations or social environments can intimidate others or create alienation.

They often become experts in their chosen fields, but their expertise spans multiple disciplines. They could be polymaths, inventors, or prolific writers. This placement can translate to mental mastery. Known for their speech or writing, they might publish groundbreaking works, deliver unforgettable speeches, or revolutionize how ideas are communicated. Much like Daidarabotchi’s footprints became lakes, their words and actions create lasting ripples in the collective psyche or societal structure.

Keywords; intellectual colossus, shape-shifting communicator, enormous curiosity, monumental ideas, hyper passionate communication, words that CUT.. DEEP.. social architect, mental chaos, cerebral dominance, etc..

Daitarabotchi in CANCER

Daitarabotchi in Cancer wields emotion like a giant reshaping the earth, capable of creating serene lakes of love and support or unleashing tsunamis of destructive force. This placement ensures that their emotional impact will resonate far beyond the bounds of their personal life, shaping not just individuals but entire emotional landscapes. Daitarabotchi in Cancer signifies a monumental presence in the realms of emotion, nurturing, and protection. This placement embodies the vast, almost primordial depths of feeling and connection, a cosmic interplay between the maternal and the monstrous. With Cancer’s lunar influence amplifying Daitarabotchi’s already overwhelming scale, this person operates as an emotional and protective giant, reshaping their inner and outer worlds through profound instincts and tidal waves of sentiment.

General themes

Their feelings are titanic, capable of carving landscapes within relationships, family, and community. They feel not just for themselves but for the world, channeling ancient, universal emotional currents. Like a divine protector, they are fiercely nurturing, defending those they love with an intensity that can be both awe-inspiring and fearsome. Their emotional care feels larger-than-life, but so too can their protective anger. Their intuition operates on a massive scale, sensing shifts in the emotional atmosphere like tectonic movements, often acting on these instincts with an unstoppable force.

These natives create and destroy emotional foundations, reshaping personal and family dynamics with their colossal influence. This can feel comforting or overwhelming to others. Their internal world is vast, complex, and oceanic, reflecting both the nurturing calm of a tranquil sea and the overwhelming power of tsunamis.

Unstoppable Nurturing Power: Their ability to support, heal, and care for others is profound. They often act as the emotional anchor for their family or community. They can access emotional depths that others barely understand, offering profound insights into the human condition. Just as Daidarabotchi’s footprints became lakes, their emotional contributions leave a lasting mark on the people and places they love.

Overwhelming Sensitivity: Their emotional currents can be so intense that they drown in their own feelings, struggling to find emotional balance. Their colossal feelings may lead to dramatic responses, creating chaos in situations that require calm. Their emotional depth may alienate them from those who cannot comprehend or match their intensity.

Emotionally Transformative Presence: Wherever they go, they profoundly influence the emotional atmosphere, reshaping how others feel and interact. They are drawn to roles or causes where they can shield and nurture, whether as caregivers, activists, or healers. Their relationships feel vast, intricate, and enduring, often resembling entire ecosystems of shared emotion and history. Their personal stories and emotional legacy often become larger-than-life narratives, influencing those around them for generations.

Keywords; emotional titan, cosmic nurturer, nurturing force, oceanic depths of feeling, cyclical emotional energy, overwhelming care, emotional anchor, creator of emotional ecosystems, etc

Daitarabotchi in LEO

Daitarabotchi in Leo is a towering figure of creativity and leadership, reshaping the world through their radiant presence and dramatic flair. Their life is a stage, their impact a legacy, and their heart a sun that burns with unrelenting passion. This placement ensures that they will never simply exist—they will leave an indelible mark on the landscape of life. Daitarabotchi in Leo represents a massive, awe-inspiring presence in the realms of self-expression, leadership, and creative power. This placement combines Leo’s solar brilliance and dramatic flair with the colossal, earth-shaping nature of Daitarabotchi, creating someone whose personality, creativity, and charisma radiate with overwhelming force. These individuals are natural-born leaders, performers, or creators, reshaping their environment with the intensity of their presence and vision.

General themes

Colossal ego & creativity; Their sense of self and creative drive are larger than life. They often see themselves as central figures, not out of arrogance, but because their presence naturally commands attention. They shine like a sun, exuding dramatic flair and the ability to captivate an audience, whether onstage or in daily life. Their energy is regal and dominating, like a giant who reshapes the world with their vision and passion. They possess an unshakable belief in their uniqueness and abilities, often inspiring or intimidating others with their sheer self-assuredness.

Transformational leadership & authority; Their leadership style is both grand and impactful, often changing the lives of those they guide or influence. They approach life with courage and passion, driven by an intense connection to what they love and care about.

They radiate warmth, confidence, and charisma, drawing others to them like moths to a flame. They effortlessly draw others into their orbit, using their charm and brilliance to influence or inspire. They are deeply driven to leave a lasting legacy, whether through their creations, leadership, or relationships. Their creative talents and self-expression are expansive, capable of reshaping cultural, social, or artistic landscapes.

Potential for an overbearing ego. Their confidence and sense of importance can tip into arrogance or a need to dominate. They may struggle with insecurity if their efforts go unnoticed, becoming overly reliant on external validation. They may demand to be the center of attention or insist on being in control, alienating others in the process. Their immense pride can make it difficult for them to admit mistakes or accept criticism.

Keywords; titanic & massive charisma, enormous self-expression, regal presence, monumental creativity, overwhelming pride, radiant self-belief, grand legacies, royalty, visionary builder, courageous creator and destroyer.

Daitarabotchi in VIRGO

Daitarabotchi in Virgo merges the boundless might of the cosmos with the small, exacting details of life. These individuals are humble yet powerful, unassuming yet transformative, capable of shaping the world through their unmatched dedication to perfection and service. Their lives are a testament to the beauty and impact of diligence, showing that even the tiniest details can create monumental change. Daitarabotchi in Virgo manifests as a monumental force focused on precision, service, and refinement. This placement merges Virgo’s analytical mind and meticulous nature with Daitarabotchi’s massive, terrain-shaping energy, creating individuals who see no task as too small and no detail as insignificant in their pursuit of excellence. Their lives are defined by a profound commitment to structure, order, and purpose, reshaping their world through acts of diligent service, relentless improvement, and transformative problem-solving.

General themes

These individuals amplify Virgo’s natural inclination toward precision, making their work and efforts feel immense in scope yet intricately refined. They have an overwhelming need to improve, heal, or optimize, tackling problems others would find too complex or overwhelming. They approach their goals with rigorous focus and organization, excelling in environments that demand careful analysis and execution. The natives have an a relentless desire to perfect themselves and their work. Endless self-improvement. Their work ethic borders on obsessive, driving them to extraordinary levels of achievement.

A massive analyst, their capacity for analysis and critical thinking is monumental, allowing them address problems others may overlook or dismiss. These natives are also incredibly intelligent, much their Gemini counterpart. They can also create very long lasting frameworks - be it in relationships, projects, their work, etc - that withstand and endure due to their painstaking attention to detail.

These people can also be overwhelming perfectionists. Their genuine obsession with getting everything so precise can lead to stress, burnout, and paralysis in the face of imperfection. Their attention to detail may become excessive and lead to them to also become exceedingly and over the top nitpicky. Also a capacity to become super critical over themselves and others. Extremely judgmental people.

On the plus side though these natives can be incredibly planners and have quite exceptional organizational skills. They can be very precise and have quite the impressive work ethic. Their work ethic and discipline can be absolutely indefatigable.

Keywords; monumental precision, colossal refinement, healing power, systematic mastery, tireless, indefatigable, relentless discipline, obsessive improvement.

This is my first post with this much detail and that’s this organized.. if it does well, I’ll release part 2, containing Daitarabotchi in Libra-Pisces…

[felassan]

DA:TV spoilers/long post under cut. This post is a continuation of [this post].

A note on the [former] Arishok's - potentially Stenishok's - current whereabouts and activities.

A nod to how Dalish clans can be quite different from each other in some ways. it's neat to hear an example of the way in which the specific details of one of the tales from Dalish lore differs from clan to clan. I would read an entire volume of World of Thedas's worth on this topic alone hh :D

Neve hears the swell of the Docktown sea when she's in the Lighthouse, the sound of the home she loves so dearly 🥺 Neve Gallus I love you

This Crow mask from concept art made it in! I wish this existed as a helmet for Rook, as it slaps ^^

same

I lost Harding in my story (second team leader), so this hurts so bad (which is to say, real good). (˚ಥ﹏ಥ)ง..

where Orzammar has Shapers of Memories, Kal-Sharok has Stewards of Memories.

Ostagar mabari bois reference 🥺 Ostagar here could feasibly have been descended from Dog, the HoF's mabari specifically. during the time of Awakening, Dog was said to have fathered a few litters of puppies.

'Ghilan'nain stamps her notes with a stylized halla head' continues.

Archive Spirits sound like Dragon Age's answer to VIs in Mass Effect, like Avina (versus the AIs). Only seven in the elven lore Bellara knows at the point in time of writing this Codex - did Mythal never feel the need to have an Archive Spirit, did the knowledge of Mythal's simply never come down through time, or did the remaining Evanuris only make Archive Spirits after Mythal had been struck down?

Stories such as ones about the elves in The Last Court 👁️..

for obvious reasons I just think the naming of "Elgar'nan's Pride" is curious...

Calling the moon and the sun to him like doves in this Codex was a neat bit of foreshadowing of the eclipse that happens at his hand during the endgame. quelling an unquiet earth - striking down the Titans and building the elven empire, like here.

Ghil has her halla head symbol to stamp, June has his own mark. I'm super curious to know what form June's takes. The single lyrium crystal split in two to 'join' the two June eluvians remains me a lot of Quantum Entanglement Communicators in Mass Effect hhh.. "When a pair of quantum-entangled particles is separated, a change to one particle will affect the other instantaneously, wherever it lies in the universe. QECs exploit this effect to transmit binary data any distance. Two pairs of entangled particles are necessary for transmission and reception." it's like that, but Dragon Age.

This reminded me of Codex: Raising the Sonallium.

1) In Thedas astronomy, some of the constellations are theorized or interpreted inworld as representing the Evanuris, like Solium and Elgar'nan, and Tenebrium and Falon'Din. Draconis is a very interesting one - there is speculation in the world that Draconis represented "an unknown eighth Old God stricken from historical record". As we now know, the Tevinter 'Old Gods' are linked to the Evanuris as their dragons/Archdemons. and here we have a possible mention of an 'eighth Evanuris' [on top of the 9 minus 2, Mythal and Fen'Harel] [[I know this codex doesn't say this being was one of them specifically, but for the sake of simplicity I'll just say it]] whose name has also mysteriously been struck out.. 👁️👁️ 2) Theory time. Falon'Din and Dirthamen were each soul fragments of what was originally the same spirit soul/being. Morrigan mentions them as being only one such case of this. the entity "The Healer" here is described as being linked to Sylaise. and in Dalish lore, Sylaise showed them how to heal, how to use herbs and magic for healing purposes. in Dalish lore the Vir Atish'an, the Way of Peace, involves learning Sylaise's wisdom, learning the arts of the healer and the mender. What if this 'eighth Evanuris' was the twin to Sylaise in the way Dirthamen was to Falon'Din? then maybe the healing stuff of 'Sylaise 2' "The Healer" came to be remembered as being associated with 'Sylaise 1' "The Surviving Sylaise" (since originally they were the same being after all, there could have been some shared traits or domains maybe)?

◕‿◕ This whole codex entry was super cool and felt kind of meta, it reminded me of how over the years in the fandom people have debated which one is which and tried to line the two sets up hh.

Beyond Thedas. (remembering the new stuff about the Devouring Storm from across the sea too)

These empty settlements made of crystal and obsidian.. that's suuuch a distinctive image and idea. there's something in that, but what?

maybe it's a volcanic land? interestingly volcanic soil can be very fertile, so in different parts of the same 'volanic land' you could feasibly have (especially in a fantasy world anyways, I'm just babbling for fun here, pls don't take the shit 'geology' etc in this post too seriously lol, ik it probably doesnt make actual real sense) areas of bare volcanic rock/glass next to or not far from areas of rich green lush vegetation growth growing from volcanic soil.. maybe the various sailor expeditions to Amaranth with their conflicting reports of it simply landed in different environs of the same 'volcanic place'? that could account for the differing accounts of what Amaranth is like.

There is this picture from the DA:TV artbook that the crystal and obsidian line really reminds me of -

Caption: "A version of the deserts of Nevarra. In this case, trying something with very high contrast: white ash and sharp black obsidian."

but this is apparently a depiction of Nevarra.

a volcanic land.. the Devouring Storm as a cloud of ash or pyroclastic flow? poison fruit, a poison cloud.. something something.. or the differing reports of the land could simply be separated by time instead of place, and something bad happened like an eruption? or could crystal and obsidian both be formed in the great heat of dragonfire? maybe there's dragons in the mix there somehow right, it's "Dragon Age" (there's always a dragon..) and the Qunari made the adaari using dragon blood to help see and fight "the ancient enemy".. something something.. I think there's more to the DS than simply a natural phenomena tho, as it's framed as an ancient enemy (or the tool of such) of the Qunari, something that was being fought, as having devouring anti-magic/magic-nullifying properties and being very cold [or at least that associated mysterious substance stuff is], but it's fun to think about :)

In The Calling, Duncan found a box in a Circle Tower which contained a strange-looking dagger made of obsidian, and there was something kinda weird about it. I read back some of the descriptions of it and something that struck me:

He handed Fiona’s staff to her and passed the black-bladed dagger to Duncan. The moment Duncan touched it, he felt a strange pulsing deep within the metal. It was cold and strangely . . . off. Yet it had never felt like this before. What could be happening to it?

here his dagger is cold and off. Compare DA:TV codex entry "Mystery Substance" (MS is connected to the DS): "It is cold, for one; ice forms on the vial's sides, even in the warmth of the afternoon sun."

and

“I was hoping!” Duncan raced as fast as he could, intending to stab the man before he could manage another spell. He leaped into the air, his dagger poised for the strike, but it was too late. Remille raised his other hand and a jet of dark shadow poured forth from it. It struck Duncan in the chest and propelled him backwards. He crashed to the ground well away from the mage, screaming in pain as the shadows spread over him like a blanket. It felt like a million ants crawling over his skin, each one biting and tearing away a piece of flesh. He flailed and swatted at the blackness with his free hand, but it was insubstantial. Like a ghost, his hand simply passed through it even though he could feel it consuming him. Desperate, he stabbed at the shadow with his dagger. Better to carve off his own flesh than be eaten whole by this magic. To his surprise, he didn’t stab himself. The moment the blade so much as touched the shadows, they recoiled from it. He began pressing the blade with frenzied haste against his body wherever the darkness touched him, and each time it retreated. Within moments he had escaped, backing against a wall and breathing rapidly. Terror raced through him as he stared at the inky black pool that lay just a foot from him, now sizzling. That could have been me, he thought. He was covered in sweat. The leather armor on his legs was torn up, the skin beneath it covered in slick blood, but he was whole. The dagger almost pulsated now. 

and here, magic spell-cast shadows recoil and retreat from the dagger, and it begins to pulsate. compare "Yet there is more to it than a simple chill. I cast several spells on the substance to ascertain its nature (once I removed it from Atrahel's possession; an easy task with one as dull as he) but the magic simply vanished as if consumed. When brought near any active magical ward, unless said ward had been cast with tremendous power, it sputtered and disappeared. A magic that devours all others would be a powerful weapon. If I could channel and master that energy". the MS also fills Atrahel with vim and vigor, where Duncan's dagger prevented him from being affected by the Calling and protected him from Blight corruption.. idk it could totally be nothing at all but it's interesting that some tales of a land across the sea recount obsidian structures, the DS is connected to across the sea stuff, the MS is connected to the DS, the MS is cold and anti-magic/consumes magic, and then you have Duncan's weird obsidian dagger which is cold and anti-magic. could totally be nothing, coincidence or bc [iirc] Duncan's dagger was enchanted and was made of the magic that the Architect taught Remille tho hh.. this post is word salad atp, not even a theory. 💀

This Memento describes that if the human nations call another Exalted March on the elves, Antiva/The Crows will not stand idly by while it happens this time.

Pertaining to the First Days of.. the First Elves...? as they walked for the first time on physical legs and breathed in air into lungs for the first time, maybe struggling to process / attune to their new form of being (flesh bodies rather than spirits)?

pertaining to the final days of Elvhenan? the Evanuris wronged the Titans before the formation of the Veil. the Titans' anger/severed dreams became the Blight, a growing thing that has been used as a weapon (e.g. Ghil) and can bring down gods, and it found frightened elves in their flesh bodies? 🤔

"Pillars" is cool phrasing for this set of Mementos because of the Titans as the Pillars of the Earth stuff :)

House Saelac (of Gorim Saelac fame) had a presence in or association with Kal-Sharok too, at one point.

I'm obsessed by the fact that for centuries Kal-Sharok sent spies out into the world above (and also to Orzammar too it sounds like?) to keep an eye on what was going on, and all that time the people they spoke to never knew from where they came.

Any connection to Codex Entry: Memories of a Duet? [ctrl-f "duet"]

The Fen'Harel art on this one says that this is to do with Solas. his failure in DA:I - the Orb of Fen'Harel lying broken into shards at the end after Corypheus was defeated, its power gone forever. misplaced trust, betrayal.. a whole new set of painful regrets start burning, added to the already large pyre.

Also Solas-related from its art. Sounds like one of his frescoes that he paints right? which god? the phrasing there could be interpreted as 'the god being painted' or 'the god doing the painting' both imo.

If the other two "Remnant" ones are Solas-related chances are this one is as well. a token or statuette of Mythal in dragon-aspect, well-handled by Solas ig q.q death is a parting and all that.

Garahel reference 🥺

[vigilskeep]

something i love to think about is what the orzammar caste system does when labelling people gets messier. like okay, you have nobles, warriors, smiths, artisans, minors, merchants, and servants. where in that is a doctor, a surgeon, an apothecary? a keeper of livestock? a butcher, a baker, a brewer, a cook? a fisherman of the underground lakes? a low-level official or civil servant, a tax collector, a scribe? the man who checks your tickets at the door of the proving? the musicians playing in the background? is a poet an artisan? what caste are shapers? are there jobs where the highest and lowest positions in the same room have to be filled by different castes, and what problems does that cause? are there smith-artisan families who marry into each other so they can share skills into similar works? do castes become so varied that many in the same one couldn’t begin to guess how to do each other’s work? when a newly emerging profession is required for the modern world, do castes bicker in front of the assembly over which has the right to fill that role? do people ever thinly veil what they’re actually doing with what their caste should be doing? (“no, ser, i’m merchant caste, of course i don’t make these, i just... refine them before sale. look, i can’t afford what the smith families charge for that when i can do it with my own hands.” “yes, ser, i’m servant caste, but i have to help craft and sell these things when my master is busy, like any servant should.” “ser, this position may require serving our customers, but it has to be held by a member of the artisan caste. who else would have the expertise?”)